The Man in Black Lives Matter

Well, we’re doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose,

In our streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy clothes. But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back, up front there ought to be a Man In Black

I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been. Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

Well, there’s things that never will be right I know, and things need changin’ everywhere you go. But ‘til we start to make a move to make a few things right, you’ll never see me wear a suit of white.

— Johnny Cash

Welp, that’s it. That’s my Hail Mary appeal to my fellow white people, strangers, friends and extended family alike.

Here’s Johnny.

If this standard-issue meme with Johnny Cash doesn’t work … if people don’t immediately and frantically share this post online by simply writing “THIS” … if white people somehow find the stubborn strength inside themselves to explain that Johnny Cash is off-base about propping up the wronged folks in society and taking steps forward to right those wrongs — then that second Civil War, I’m afraid, is probs imminent.

But, the thing is, I just wasn’t sure how else to reach the thousands of white men and women I know, love and also hate on the other side of the #BlackLivesMatter fence (and, honestly, many more black people than I expected in various comments sections, but here we are I guess) who don’t get quite get it yet, or won’t.

So I choose Medium dot com…a conservative bastion of information and enlightenment! I’ve not at all created my own Liberal circlejerk with this post. There is no way only Liberals will ever read and like this and/or hate this. But anyway…

Here’s something you white folks (from where I grew up and otherwise) have certainly heard before and chosen not to absorb — but I’m begging you to. It’s a variation on the very popular “Golden Rule,” which is very big in certain parts of the Midwest. It’s “Black Lives Matter.” It’s in your neighbor’s yard.

It’s soon to be in all your neighbor’s yards.

Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean everyone’s life isn’t important. It’s never meant that. You know that, come on.

It means that stuff you see in the news isn’t some biased media agenda. Quit making excuses. It’s all true — it’s all happening. You know that. We all do, c’mon. You get it. Please don’t act like you don’t get it. You see it everyday, too, just like me. Just like where we grew up.

People of color from Charlotte to Syria have it harder in the good old USA. There isn’t some conspiracy. As you know. As you’ve always known. As you’ve whispered to me when the wrong element isn’t around.

Johnny Cash.

My own personal Jesus. There it is in black and white. (Jesus being black, Johnny being white)

White People: when Jesus returns (and he will), what will you say to this Wikipedia entry?

“The lyrics [to Man in Black] are an after-the-fact explanation of this with the entire song as a protest statement against racism, the treatment of poor people by wealthy politicians, the condemnation of drug users and prisoners, and the war in Vietnam. In the intro to his first performance of the song, Johnny Cash revealed he had talked to some of the audience members from Vanderbilt University that weekend, and was inspired to write ‘Man in Black,’ revising it a few times before the concert on Wednesday. At the end of the song he received a standing ovation.”

There you go.

“Liberal bias!” some of you will yell. And then this conversation will be over for probably half of you, as you return to a pork chop sandwich.

Ok, let’s try this, instead.

White People: If Johnny Cash was alive, and cared anything about football (he doesn’t) I pretty much know he’d support Colin Kaepernick.

How do I know?

Because it would suddenly appear in your Trending Feed one day in 2016, obviously.

“Johnny Cash — 32.6K are talking about this.”

And at first you’d go “oh shit…did Johnny Cash die?” like you always did until Facebook started putting green, yellow and red lights next to trending names indicating “Alive,” “Dead,” or “Helicopter Chase” and reducing national anxiety (and, thus, CO2 and Carbon Monoxide and greenhouse gas levels, extending the Earth’s life by 10 years) by 1600%.

But no. He did something worse, the hyperlink reveals.

In this scenario, Johnny Cash tells TMZ “Black Lives Matter,” and backs it up with some facts and good sensible empathy.

And immediately, in 2016, fans would revolt against Johnny Cash.

“What has johnny Cash even fukn done lately since 2010?”

“Traitor.”

“Go back to the Dixie Chicks dude”

“The wrong Highwayman died.”

“His Luke Bryan duet sucked!!!!!trump2106"

And then Johnny Cash dies, unloved by white people. At the 2017 CMT Awards, Toby Keith does his eulogy and tribute, and they go to commercial.

So no…not even sure Johnny Cash could fix this, white brethren.

And if you think that’s depressing, you don’t want to know Johnny Cash’s hardline stance on bringing your guns to town.